USA to Observe Drive Safer Sunday Nov. 29

/PRNewswire/ -- The fifth annual national observance of Drive Safer Sunday in America is set for Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, when Road Safe America urges motorists across the USA again to focus on driving more safely to avoid becoming a statistic on the busiest highway traffic day of the year.

The annual observance, supported by state and congressional resolutions, thousands of motorists, truckers and the news media, was launched on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2005 by Atlanta-based Road Safe America.

The American Automobile Association is projecting a 1.4 percent increase in Thanksgiving travel this year, although fewer people are expected to travel by air due to budget concerns, reduced airline capacity and added charges. AAA estimates 38.4 million people will be traveling at least 50 miles next weekend. AAA projects 86 percent of travelers will drive.

"The death of almost 40,000 people a year in more than 6 million highway crashes in America is an unchecked epidemic in this country," said Stephen C. Owings of Atlanta, co-founder of Road Safe America along with his wife, Susan.

The Owings founded Road Safe America after their son, Cullum, was killed on the Sunday after Thanksgiving in 2002 when his car - stopped in an interstate traffic jam - was crushed from behind by a speeding tractor trailer truck on cruise control going 7 mph over the posted speed limit.

Statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation show almost 1,000 truckers and about 4,000 auto drivers and passengers are killed in wrecks involving heavy commercial vehicles every year.

Road Safe America urges all of the motorists who will be traveling back home, or to school, that day to remember how dangerous a day it is and to be particularly careful. Stay alert, buckle up, drive slowly as well as defensively, and give heavy commercial vehicles plenty of room since they can't see, maneuver or stop as well as smaller vehicles. We also encourage all drivers to stay off of their communications devices, which are so dangerously distracting.

During this year's observance of Drive Safer Sunday, Road Safe America will honor Robert F. Dallas, Director of the Governor's Office of Highway Safety in Georgia. Bob's support of the Road Safe America cause and especially Drive Safer Sunday has been broad and effective since the very beginning of the organization's efforts.

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State Troopers and DPS Officers Have Begun Holiday Seat Belt Enforcement Effort

Georgia State Troopers and officers with the Georgia Department of Public Safety Motor Carrier Compliance Division and Capitol Police Services Unit joined their law enforcement counterparts across the United States on Monday, November 16, for Operation Click It or Ticket. The two-week, high-visibility seat belt enforcement effort will target motorists who are not wearing their seat belts or properly restraining children.

Colonel Bill Hitchens, Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Public Safety, said seat belt enforcement has proven to save lives. "Through enforcement and education, more people are using seat belts than ever before and that has translated to more lives saved when traffic crashes occur," he said. "But, far too many people are still not buckling up or taking the time to properly restrain children."

Last year during the 102-hour Thanksgiving holiday travel period, the Georgia State Patrol investigated 10 fatal crashes between 6 p.m. Wednesday and midnight the following Sunday. "Of the 10 fatal crashes troopers investigated, six of the people killed were not wearing seat belts; one crash victim was a motorcyclist; and use could not be determined in one crash," the Commissioner noted.

Nationally, nighttime is the worst for seat belt use, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of the 231 traffic deaths in crashes occurring at night during the Thanksgiving holiday period in 2008, 67 percent were not wearing seat belts.

Colonel Hitchens said troopers will be keeping a close watch for seat belt violations during patrols over the next two weeks and MCCD officers will be watching for seat belt violations by drivers of commercial motor vehicles as well. "Federal regulations require safety belt use at all times in a commercial motor vehicle," he said.

"Wearing a seat belt costs you nothing, and may save your life or protect you from a serious, possibly life-altering injury," Colonel Hitchens said. "Not wearing a seat belt, especially during this Thanksgiving period, will definitely cost you a ticket at the very least."

Regular seat belt use is the single most effective way to protect people and reduce fatalities in motor vehicle crashes, according to NHTSA. Research has shown that when lap and shoulder belts are used properly, the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants is reduced by 45 percent, and the risk of moderate to serious injury is reduced by 50 percent.

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Governor Certifies $66 Million in Transportation Projects

On November 9, Governor Sonny Perdue announced that he has certified $65.8 million in transportation projects under the “1511 Certification” that will be funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“These projects will bring safety improvements and needed maintenance and support to roads, intersections and bridges around Georgia,” said Governor Perdue. “The federal funds will make our roads safe and strengthen our transportation network.”

For more information, visit Georgia DOT’s stimulus website at www.dot.state.ga.us/gastimulus .The list of the projects approved is below:


Baker CR 122/PRETORIA ROAD FROM SR 91 TO DOUGHERTY COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Baldwin CS 701/BLANDY ROAD FROM SR 49 TO SR 22

Resurface & Maintenance

Baldwin CR 69/BROWNS CROSSING ROAD FROM SR 49 TO SR 22

Resurface & Maintenance

Ben Hill CR 254/OSIERFIELD FROM SR 206 TO IRWIN COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Berrien CR 359/WYCLIFF ROBERTS ROAD FM SR 158 TO CR 238/GLADYS ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Bryan, Chatham I-95 FROM SR 25/US 17/BRYAN TO I-16/CHATHAM

Resurface & Maintenance

Bulloch CR 577/DENMARK-NEVILS ROAD FM CR 584/GROVELAND ROAD TO SR 67

Resurface & Maintenance

Butts CR 296/BROWNLEE ROAD FM SR 36 TO CR 136 @ MONROE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Camden CR 141/HARRIETTS BLUFF ROAD FM DEEP CREEK TO CHEMICAL PLANT

Resurface & Maintenance

Chattooga CR 329/GORE-SUBLIGNA RD FROM SR 1/US 27 TO CR 29/JOHNSTON RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Chattooga CR 325/NARROWS RD FM CR 337 TO W OF CR 330 - STABILIZATION

Pavement Rehab

Cherokee SR 5BU FROM SR 140/WALESKA TO CS 785/RIVERSTONE BLVD

Signals - Safety

Clarke CR 470/MAIN ST FM CR 134/ATHENS RD TO OGLETHORPE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Clarke CR 140/OLD ELBERTON FM CR 477/VOYLES RD TO MADISON CO LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Clarke CR 120/SMOKEY ROAD FROM NOWHERE ROAD TO HELICAN SPRINGS ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Clayton CR 311/PINE RIDGE RD FROM SR 3/US 19 TO CR 312/PHILLIPS DR

Resurface & Maintenance

Clayton CR 1351/REX ROAD FROM SR 42 TO I-675

Resurface & Maintenance

Cobb CR 1720/WINDY HILL FM CR 1154/POWERS FERRY RD TO SR 3/US 41

Resurface & Maintenance

Colquitt CS 759/CS 1025/WEST BLVD FM SR 33/US 319 TO CS 753/FIFTH AVE

Resurface & Maintenance

Cook CR 247/MASSEE POST RD FROM BOONE RD TO LONNIE GRIMSLEY RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Dooly CR 320/ELKO ROAD FROM HOUSTON COUNTY LINE TO SR 7

Resurface & Maintenance

Dougherty SR 300/US 19 MEDIAN TURN LANES FROM MITCHELL CO TO WORTH CO

Turn Lanes - Safety

Dougherty WEST OAKRIDGE DRIVE FM OLD PRETORIA ROAD TO LOCKETT STATION

Resurface & Maintenance

Effingham CR 307/CLYO-KILDARE ROAD FROM SR 21 TO N OF PR 443

Resurface & Maintenance

Elbert CR 307/THIRTEEN FORKS ROAD FROM SR 77 TO HART COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Evans CR 233/OLD HWY 250 FM TATTNALL CO LINE TO CR 204/SUNBURY RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Floyd CS 1124/BROAD STREET FROM SR 1/US 27 TO COOSA RIVER

Resurface & Maintenance

Floyd CS 642/CHARLTON ST FROM SR 1/US 27 TO CR 1050/DIVISION ST

Resurface & Maintenance

Franklin CR 418/CR 419/BOLD SPRINGS RD FM SR 106 TO SR 59; EXC SR 26

Resurface & Maintenance

Fulton JOHNS CREEK GREENWAY SEGMENT 1 PART 2

Bicycle/Ped. Facility

Gordon CR 483/CRAIGTOWN ROAD FROM SR 225 TO SR 3/US 41

Resurface & Maintenance

Gordon CR 483/NEWTOWN CHURCH ROAD FROM SR 225 TO CR 21/NEWTOWN ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Grady CR 315/17TH AVE FM SR 93/SR 111 TO 0.30 MI E OF SR 38/US 84

Resurface & Maintenance

Habersham CR 387/DEMOREST/MT AIRY ROAD FROM SR 385/US 442 TO SR 365

Resurface & Maintenance

Hancock CR 180/POWELLTON AVE FM HAMILTON ST TO SPARTA CITY LIMITS

Resurface & Maintenance

Hart CR 505/LIBERTY CHURCH ROAD FROM SR 172 TO ELBERT COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Jackson CR 426/WAYNE POULTRY FM OLD GAINESVILLE HWY TO VALENTINE PKY

Resurface & Maintenance

Jefferson CS 561/MIDVILLE ROAD FROM SR 4 TO SR 24

Resurface & Maintenance

Jefferson CR 59/QUAKER ROAD FROM SR 17 TO SR 80

Resurface & Maintenance

Johnson CR 203/BAY SPRINGS CHURCH RD FM SR 26 TO MT OLIVE CHURCH RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Jones CR 292/BOWEN HILL ROAD FROM CR 107/SMITH ROAD TO SR 49

Resurface & Maintenance

Lamar CR 214/HIGH FALLS PARK FROM SR 36 TO MONROE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Laurens CS 768/ROBERSON ST FROM SR 19/US 80 TO CS 770/KNOX ST

Resurface & Maintenance

Laurens CR 526/OLD MACON RD FM EVERGREEN RD TO WILKINSON COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Lee CR 227/PINEWOOD RD FM KINCHAFOONEE CRK TO CR 229/BRONWOOD RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Lee CR 231/NORTH PHILEMA ROAD FROM SR 32 TO CR 232/NEW YORK ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Lowndes CR 779/HOWELL RD FM CR 1274/STATENVILLE TO SR 7/PERIMETER RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Lowndes CR 782/MORVEN ROAD FROM SR 122 TO BROOKS COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

LumpkinCR 134/DAMASCUS CHURCH RD FM SR 9/US 19 TO WHITE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Macon CR 282/DRAYTON RD FM CR 22/TWIN CHURCHS RD TO DOOLY CO LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Madison CR 394/LEXINGTON ROAD FROM SR 72 TO OGLETHORPE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

McDuffie CS 663/RAILDROAD STREET FROM SR 17 TO SR 223

Resurface & Maintenance

McDuffie CR 309/HAPPY VALLEY ROAD FROM SR 17 TO CR 297/SAND HILL ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Miller CR 189/GRADY COBB RD FM SHINGLER RD TO THREE NOTCH RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Mitchell CR 275/RIVER ROAD FROM SR 65 TO CR 11/SLASH ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Muscogee WARM SPRINGS RAIL LINE BIKE/PED TRAIL - PHASE III

TE-Bike/Ped Facility

Muscogee ATMS/SIGNAL/CCTV/FIBER IN COLUMBUS

Safety

Muscogee ATMS: COLUMBUS/MUSCOGEE COUNTY/GDOT REGIONAL TCC

Safety

Oglethorpe CR 77/WOLFSKIN ROAD FROM CR 240 TO CLARKE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Paulding CR 467/DALLAS NEBO ROAD FROM SR 61 TO CR 472/FROG ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Pike CR 161/KINGS ROAD FROM SR 109 TO UPSON COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Pulaski CR 198/BURNT BRIDGE FROM SR 26 TO SR 230

Resurface & Maintenance

Rabun OLD 441 FM S OF CR 218 TO CS 514 & FM CS 501 TO SR 15/US 441

Resurface & Maintenance

Randolph CR 161/LOWER SHELLMAN FROM SR 41 TO TERRELL COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Richmond CR 1509/KEYSVILLE ROAD FROM SR 88 TO BURKE COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Screven CR 243/E OGEECHEE ST FM SR 73 TO SYLVANIA CITY LIMITS

Resurface & Maintenance

Stephens CR 538/BROOKHAVEN CIR FM CR 43/E SILVER SHOALS RD TO SR 328

Resurface & Maintenance

Tattnall CR 509/OLD HWY 250 FM SR 73/US 301 TO EVANS COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Tift CR 418/OLD UNION RD FROM SOUTHWELL BLVD TO OMEGA-ELDORADO RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Toombs CR 335/THOMPSON POND ROAD FROM SR 292 TO VIDALIA CITY LIMITS

Resurface & Maintenance

Towns CR 172/GUM LOG RD FM W OF WINCHESTER CRK RD TO BARNARD RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Troup CR 407/BARTLEY ROAD FROM SHOEMAKER ROAD TO SR 1

Resurface & Maintenance

Turner CR 249/WARWICK HWY FM E OF CR 96/OAK GROVE TO CR 94/LEE RD

Resurface & Maintenance

Twiggs CR 193/SGODA-HUBER ROAD FM SR 87 TO CR 185/RIGGINS MILL ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

Union CR 341/OLD BLUE RIDGE HWY FM CR 117 TO LITTLE YOUNGCANE CRK

Resurface & Maintenance

Upson CR 421/BARNESVILLE ROAD FROM SR 74 TO LAMAR COUNTY LINE

Resurface & Maintenance

Warren CR 174/FIVE POINTS JEWELL ROAD FROM SR 16 TO SR 123

Resurface & Maintenance

Washington CR 446/RIDGE ROAD FROM SR 88 TO SR 15

Resurface & Maintenance

Wayne CR 392/SUNSET BLVD FROM SR 169 TO N OF SR 38/US 84

Resurface & Maintenance

White CR 68/HULSEY ROAD FROM SR 75 TO SR 11/US 129

Resurface & Maintenance

Wilkes CS 612/ANDREWS DRIVE FROM SR 17/US 78BU TO SR 47

Resurface & Maintenance

Worth CR 415/PHILLIP CAUSEY ROAD FROM SR 33 TO CR 412/SUMNER ROAD

Resurface & Maintenance

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